Duplicating apparatus



March 21, 1933. A. J. BATES DUPLICATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 195067%;: JBaZisa @Zeri Patented Mar. 21, 1933 warren STATES PATENT caries-ALBERT J. BATES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T DITTO INCORPORATED,

CHICAGO, ELLTNOIS, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIBG-INIA DUPLICATINGAIEIPARA'IUS a Application filed October 8, 1930. Serial No. 487,177.

This invention relates toduplicating machines, and is illustrated asembodied in a hectograph having means for causing its platen'roller torotate at the proper speed in relation to its linear movement. g

In the illustrated form ofithe apparatus,

a large drum mounted on the usual carriage.

is rotated by a stationary steel cable in accordance with the movementof the carriage. 1a The drum carries an internal gear which meshes witha pinion on the platen roller to cause the latter to rotate atsubstantially a true rolling speed or a slight consistent variationtherefrom. a According to the former practice, such a cable has beenwound about a drum mounted directly on the shaft of the platen roller,and therefore of a diameter approximate .to but slightly smaller thanthat of the platen roller.

One object of the invention which will reliably and consistentlyregulate the rotation of the platen roller to correspond accurately tothe travel of the carriage in which it is mounted, so that the masterand copy papers will be rolled smoothly on the copying hand withouteither 'rumpling or undue sliding tendencies. V

Another object of the invention is to provide means for drivingfor theusually compara-tively small platen roller, said means including a drumof a diameter sufficiently large to permit the use of a steel cable witha minimum of crystallization due to flexing.

A further object of the invention is to provide, for the purposesdescribed, a drum of suflicient size to decrease the wearing of bothcable and the drum due to relative creeping between the two. Byincreasing the size of the drum the lead angle is proportionately 40reduced. The lead angle may nontechnically be described as the angle atwhich the cable coming onto the drum must extend from the perpendicularin order to prevent chafing with the cable leaving the drum. Anotherobject. is to providesuch a platen control device which is simple ofconstruction, durable, and capable of being assembled together with theplaten roller as a unit-readily mounted on and removed from the machine.1

catgut'of the desired diameter, and when a The use of high grade steelcables has formerly been considered impractical with :a small platenroller, because of the rapid crystallization accompanying its beingwound around a small sized drum; On the other hand, catgut, which hasbeen used formerly is very unsatisfactory not only because of itscomparatively rapid wear, but alsobecause it is nearly impossible alwaystoget 6U catgut of the right diameter is secured, its diameter varieswith atmospheric conditions. Inasmuch as the'size of the cable afiectsthe speed rotation of the drum and the platen roller, such variation maybe fatal to successful operation. 7

Steel cable can be cut by machineryto the exact length desired, andattached to screw adapters ready for quick insertion on the machine. I'7 With these and various. other objects in View, the invention may,consist .of certain novel features of construction and operation,asvwill be more fully described and particularly pointed out in thespecification, drawing and claims appended hereto.

In the drawing which illustrates an embodiment of my invention, j Figure1 is a fragmentary view of a hectograph illustrating the use to which myinvention is put; v

Figure-2 is a vertical section illustrating the detailsof my invention,taken along the line IIII of Figure 4; Figure 3 is a plan View partly insection of the apparatus shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a vertical section at right angles to the section takenalong the line IVIV of Figure 1.

Although my invention may take many forms and have many uses, only onehas been illustrated. The duplicating machine may be of the hectographtype and, as shown, .ineludes the copying band 10 stretched betweensuitable drums 12, mounted on the frame 14. 5 Also mounted on the frame14 is the bar 16 on which is slidably'mounted the carriage 18, the otherend of which may be shiftab-ly supported in any suitable manner, notshown.

Carried by the carriage 18 is a platen roller 20, adapted, as iscustomary, to be lowered into pressing relationship with the copyingband 10. The platen roller 20 is mounted on the shaft 21 which rotatesin a hexagon bushing 21a which is secured in a bracket 22. This bracketis pivotally carried by a shaft 24:, and is provided with a suitablehandle 26 for operating the same and for moving the carriage 18. Theusual pressure roller 27 is also provided.

The shaft 21 is extended beyond the bracket 22 and carries at its end apinion 28. According to the former practice, a drum was mounted on thisshaft, in place of the pinion 28, and cables of cat-gut were passedaround the drum and securedat the ends of the frame to insure the properrotation of the platen roller 20. To accomplish this result in thatmanner the drum had to be as small in diame ter as the roller itself, ormore exactly, a little smaller. This was so small that asteel cablecould not be satisfactorily used as the severe flexing would rapidlycauseits crystallization. Accordingly, catgut was used, but this alsohad many drawbacks. According to the present invention the platen rolleris controlled by a large drum 30 so that a steel cable can be used withentire satisfaction.

The large drum 30 is provided with a sleeve 31 on a spindle 32 which issecured to a plate 34. The plate 34 is pivoted on the shaft 24 and fitsloosely over shaft 21 to move with the platen roller 20.

On the inside of drum 30 is an internal gear rin 36 which is preferablyset into a recess in the drum as shown in Figure 4. Gear ring 36 is heldin proper engagement with pinion 28 by means of pivotal bearing 38 whichis pivotally mounted on the central sleeve 31 of drum 30. A steel cable40 is secured at one end to the frame by a suitable screw adaptor 42, ispassed under, around and again under the drum 30, and is maintained tautby a spring 4:4 secured to a suitable bracket.

The operation of the above described apparatus is as follows: As thecarriage 18 moves from left to right, the drum 30 is rotated by cable40. The rotation of the drum causes a rotation of platen roller 20through ring gear 36 and pinion 28. The parts are of course of suchproportions that the roller 20 rotates at the desired speed. It ispreferred that this be slightly less than true rolling speed, so as tocause a very slight drag on the paper being impressed. The drag shouldbe 'just enough to keep the paper tight, without objectionably slidingit on the copying band.

' Another part of the operation of the device for which there arespecial requirements, is the feeding. The paper is inserted between theplaten roller 20 and pressure roller 27 while the platen roller israised out of con tact. In order that the paper may be properly spacedto give the correct margin, it is necessary that the platen roll beprevented from too much rotation during the lowering of the platenroller into contact. The cable and drum prevent undue rotation of theplaten roller during the lowering operation, though they cause just theright rotation when the copying stroke is started.

It is frequently desired to tilt the carriage 18' as a whole, swingingit up about the rod 16. '-During this movement the cable anddrummaintain the parts in the proper relationship.

-The large drum not only permits the use of a steel cable but it permitsthe drum to be narrower'and results in longer life of the parts forvariousreasons. There is comparatively less-creeping of the cablerelative to the drum; and a thousandth of an inch wear from the surfaceof the drum, being less in proportion to the diameter of the drum, has

less effect on the speed of rotation of the platen roller. The narrowerdrum is possible because it makes fewer rotations in a stroke andtherefore the cable is shifted less, laterally. This results in moreuniformity and efficiency.

It is to be understood that I do not Wish to be limited by the exactembodiments of the device shown, which are merely by way of illustrationand not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will ofcourse be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a duplicating machine, a roller mounted for linear movement, adrum mounted therewith for controlling the rotation of said roller, saiddrum being of larger diameter than the roller, and means to cause saiddrum to rotate in response to linear movement of said roller.

2. Duplicating apparatus including a movable member, a roller rotatablycarried thereby a drum carried by said movable member and rotatablymounted with respect to said roller for controlling the rotation of saidroller, and means whereby a linear movement of said drum causes arotation thereof, the proportions of the parts being such that saidrotation causes a correct predetermined rolling speed of the roller.

3. A duplicating machine including a roller of comparatively smalldiameter, a drum adapted to control the rotation of said roller, and asteel cable having its ends permanently secured and extending aroundsaid drum, said drum having a radius of sufficient size to minimize thecrystallization of said cable due to winding around the drum. 7

l. Duplicating apparatus including a roller adapted to roll over a givencourse, a pinion rigid with said roller, on internal gear ring meshingwith said pinion, a drum rigid with said gear ring, and means tocausesaid drum to rotate in accordance with the linear movement of saidroller and said drum.

5. Duplicating apparatus including a roller adapted to roll over a givencourse, a pinion mounted on said roller, an internal gear ringconstantly meshing With said pinion, a drum rigid with said gear ringand traveling with said roller, and a cable wound around said drum andextending along the path of said drum with an end substantiallystationary.

6. Duplicating apparatus'including a roller adapted to roll over a givencourse, a pinion rigid with said roller, an internal gear ringconstantly meshing with said pinion, a drum mounted on said gear ringand traveling with said roller, and a cable Wound around said drum andextending along the path of said drum, said drum having a radius greaterthan the rapid crystallization radius of said cable.

7. In a duplicating machine, a carriage mounted for linear movement andfor rotation a roller mounted in said carriage for linear movement androtation with respect to said carriage, a pinion rigidly associated withsaid roller, and means including teeth adapted to mesh with said pinionfor causing said pinion to rotate in proportion to the movement of saidcarriage, said means also controlling said pinion as to rotativemovement during the linear movement of said roller with respect to saidcarriage, and said means remaining constantly in operative conditionduring rotation of said carriage.

8. In a duplicating machine, a carriage mounted for linear movement andfor rotation, a roller mounted in said carriage for linear movement androtation with respect to said carriage a pinion rigidly associated withsaid roller, and means including teeth adapted to mesh with said pinionfor causing said pinion to rotate in proportion to the movement of saidcarriage and with approximately true rolling motion, said means alsocontrolling said pinion as to rotative movement during the linearmovement of r said roller with respect to said carriage to cause properpositioning of the paper as the roller is shifted into active position.

9. In a duplicating machine, a carriage mounted for linear movement andfor rotation, a roller mounted in said carriage for 5) linear movementand rotation with respect to said carriage, a pinion rigidly associatedwith said roller, and means including a stationary cable, a drum driventhereby and carried by said carriage and an internal gear 59 ringcarried by said drum and meshing with said pinion for causing saidpinion to rotate in proportion to the movement of said carriage and withapproximately true rolling motion, said means also controlling saidpinion as to rotative movement during the linear movement of said rollerwith respect to said carriage to cause proper positioning of the paperas the roller is shifted into-active position.

10. A duplicating machine including a slidable carriage, a roller ofcomparatively small size mounted on said carriage, a drum mounted onsaid carriage and adapted to control the rotation of said roller, and asteel cable extending around said drum and having its ends permanentlysecured to said machine; said drum having a radius larger than that ofthe roller and of such size that the cable in frequently passing aroundthe drum is not flexed sharply enough to be rapidly crystallized, therelation of the parts being such as to give the roller approximatelytrue rolling motion.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 7th day of October, 1930.

ALBERT J. BATES.

